OU receives $34M in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software

Oakland University industrial and systems engineering students will benefit significantly from a nearly $34 million in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software made to the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

The in-kind software grant, made through Siemens PLM Software's GO PLM™ initiative, will provide the college with Tecnomatix® software, a best-in-class digital manufacturing solution that is used globally by manufacturers in various industries. Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, is a leading PLM software provider for U.S. automakers and their suppliers.

"This grant from Siemens PLM Software is absolutely critical to us, because this is where advanced manufacturing is going," said Robert Van Til, professor of industrial and systems engineering at OU. "Without the grant, we simply would not have had access to market-leading PLM technology like Tecnomatix."

"Engineering students really want access to tools like Tecnomatix, because they know this is what they'll be using on the job," added Van Til. "These tools take all the math and theory they learn in the classroom and help them to put it to use in the real world. This is how they apply everything they've been learning."

"Siemens PLM Software provides Oakland University access to PLM technology, which otherwise would be out of reach for the academic community, giving students a distinct advantage by being able to use the same PLM technology widely-used by leading, multi-national manufacturing companies around the globe," said Hulas King, director, Global Community Relations and GO PLM Programs, Siemens PLM Software.

"The experience gained in the use of these tools better prepares students for today's highly competitive manufacturing jobs that require full knowledge of modern technologies and tools."

In addition to the very welcome and appreciated in-kind grant from Siemens PLM Software, Van Til said company representatives have been tremendously generous in terms of providing training and support.

Tecnomatix software is a set of digital manufacturing solutions that deliver one of the industry's most comprehensive manufacturing process development and virtual validation capabilities to help companies quickly identify and implement the best strategies for boosting productivity, lowering costs and meeting quality targets. Use of Tecnomatix enables accelerated innovation through collaboration among engineering and manufacturing teams from product engineering to the shop floor.

To learn more about industrial and systems engineering undergraduate and graduate studies at Oakland, visit oakland.edu/ise. To learn about other engineering programs the university offers, visit oakland.edu/secs or call (248) 370-2247.